Stories for February 17th 2017

The Falkland Islands Tourist Board are pleased to announce that the Falkland Islands won the best destination award in the Wave Awards in London; finalists in this category included Abu Dhabi, Akureyri, Dublin, Palma, Santa Cruz and Seattle.

Political and diplomatic analyst from Argentine newspaper La Nacion has altered an online version of an interview due to his inaccurate reporting of an interview with the British Ambassador in Argentina.

Hanjin Shipping used to be one of the world's top 10 shipping companies, but now it faces the final curtain. This Friday is the deadline for the firm to be declared bankrupt by a South Korean court after months of uncertainty. Hanjin's collapse is the largest to hit the shipping sector and it sent shockwaves through the industry.

Four members of the UK Parliament are visiting the Islands Guests of the Falkland Islands Government; they are accompanied by Falkland Islands Government Representative in London Sukey Cameron MBE. Members of Parliament are regularly invited to the Falkland Islands by FIG.

Mexican politicians are saber rattling against the US agriculture sector, and it looks like Argentina is ready to fill the gap. In effect Mexico's agriculture minister said on Thursday he will lead a business delegation to Argentina and Brazil to explore buying yellow corn, part of a drive to lessen Mexico's U.S. dependence given uncertainty over President Donald Trump's trade policies.

President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated former National Labor Relations Board member R. Alexander Acosta to serve as U.S. secretary of labor, one day after Trump's original choice withdrew. Acosta is dean of the Florida International University College of Law in Miami and is Trump’s first Hispanic nominee.

Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra met on Thursday in Bonn with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and one of the issues addressed was organizing the coming summit of presidents Mauricio Macri and Donald Trump, following the invitation extended to the Argentine leader by the US president on Wednesday's phone exchange.

Mercosur officially begins this Friday trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association, EFTA, which brings together those countries that do not belong to the European Union, EU, that is Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and that in a couple of years could see the UK, negotiating Brexit, joining.

Mr Matthew Hedges has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Paraguay in succession to Dr Jeremy Hobbs, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr. Hedges will take up his appointment in August 2017.